Publisher main menu

Call for papers: Overviews of systematic reviews: development and evaluation of methods

Guest Editor: Dr Joanne McKenzie

Systematic Reviewsinvites you to submit to our new thematic series, ‘Overviews of systematic reviews: development and evaluation of methods’. The deadline for submissions to this thematic series is 28 February 2018. Manuscripts submitted after this date will still be considered in the main body of the journal.

With the proliferation of systematic reviews of primary studies, a new review type – overviews of systematic reviews – has gained prominence. Overviews attempt to summarize the results from multiple systematic reviews on a particular topic. They may be undertaken for a range of purposes, such as, mapping the type and quantity of evaluated interventions; comparing the effectiveness of multiple interventions for the same condition; or, summarizing the effects of an intervention across conditions.

The steps for undertaking an overview are similar to those used in systematic reviews of primary studies; however, there are unique considerations that require the use of different or additional methods. For example, dealing with the same studies included in multiple systematic reviews; or, dealing with discordant results across systematic reviews.

The Editors invite submissions for a series on overviews of systematic reviews. We will consider articles that: examine methods used in overviews; outline the development of a new method for overviews; evaluate the performance of methods for overviews; or examine issues of bias in overviews. Articles that apply a new method in an overview, where there is substantial development or critique of the method, will also be considered.

Manuscripts should be formatted according to our submission guidelines and submitted via the online submission system. In the submission system please make sure the correct collection title is chosen on the additional information tab. Please also indicate clearly in the covering letter that the manuscript is to be considered for the ‘Overviews of systematic reviews: development and evaluation of methods’ series. For further information, please email editorial@systematicreviewsjournal.com.